Health Secretary Dismisses Leadership Speculation
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has publicly denied any intention to challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership, following overnight briefings suggesting he would attempt to oust the Prime Minister.
Speaking on Sky's Mornings with Ridge and Frost on Wednesday 12 November 2025, Mr Streeting gave a definitive response when asked if he would launch a leadership challenge after the budget on 26 November. "No," he stated unequivocally.
Self-Defeating Briefings
The Health Secretary described the speculation as a "totally self-defeating briefing, not least because it's not true". He went further to rule out demanding Sir Keir's resignation in the days following this month's budget or after the local elections in May.
Mr Streeting directly accused allies of the prime minister in Number 10 of briefing against him, highlighting internal tensions within the Labour party.
Historical Support Acknowledged
While admitting he didn't support Sir Keir during the 2020 leadership election, Mr Streeting emphasised his consistent backing since. "I did support him from the moment he was elected and I supported him all the way through," he told the programme.
The Health Secretary's strong denial comes amid growing speculation about Labour's future direction and leadership stability following challenging economic circumstances.
